Patents by Inventor Lawrence Laba

Lawrence Laba has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10711892
    Abstract: Described herein is a gearbox for a motor vehicle including a plurality of forward gear ratios and a reverse gear ratio, the gearbox further including: a control device (configured for controlling the selection and the engagement of said forward gear ratios and of said reverse gear ratio; and a plurality of engagement devices that can be controlled by means of said control device for engaging the forward gear ratios or reverse gear ratio (RM) of the gearbox that are operatively associated to said devices. The gearbox includes a locking device, which is electrically controlled and configured for preventing actuation of the engagement device associated to a predetermined forward gear ratio, said locking device being configured for being actuated above a threshold speed of the motor vehicle on which said gearbox is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societá Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Andrea Piazza, Gianluigi Pregnolato, Lawrence Laba
  • Patent number: 9719564
    Abstract: A synchronizer mechanism for synchronizing the rotation of gears between a power input shaft and a power output shaft in a manual transmission includes a hub and a synchronizer sleeve disposed about the hub and moveable relative thereto into and out of engagement with adjacent gears to synchronize the rotation of the adjacent gears with the rotation of the power input shaft. An indexing mechanism is employed for indexing the synchronizer sleeve into and out of engagement with adjacent gears. The indexing mechanism includes a retaining mechanism and a detent portion having a main synchronization detent and at least one second synchronization detent disposed laterally adjacent the main synchronization detent. The main synchronization detent causes an intermediate clutch ring to contact a cylindrical cone portion on a gear and begin the change in angular velocity of the gear and to begin the synchronization sequence of the mechanism at a first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Edward Perosky, Lawrence Laba, Christopher J. Stiefel
  • Patent number: 9551417
    Abstract: Described herein is a gearbox for a motor vehicle including a plurality of forward gear ratios and a reverse gear ratio, the gearbox further including: a control device (configured for controlling the selection and the engagement of said forward gear ratios and of said reverse gear ratio; and a plurality of engagement devices that can be controlled by means of said control device for engaging the forward gear ratios or reverse gear ratio (RM) of the gearbox that are operatively associated to said devices. The gearbox includes a locking device, which is electrically controlled and configured for preventing actuation of the engagement device associated to a predetermined forward gear ratio, said locking device being configured for being actuated above a threshold speed of the motor vehicle on which said gearbox is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: C.R.F. SOCIETÀ CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Andrea Piazza, Gianluigi Pregnolato, Lawrence Laba
  • Publication number: 20140298936
    Abstract: Described herein is a gearbox for a motor vehicle including a plurality of forward gear ratios and a reverse gear ratio, the gearbox further including: a control device (configured for controlling the selection and the engagement of said forward gear ratios and of said reverse gear ratio; and a plurality of engagement devices that can be controlled by means of said control device for engaging the forward gear ratios or reverse gear ratio (RM) of the gearbox that are operatively associated to said devices. The gearbox includes a locking device, which is electrically controlled and configured for preventing actuation of the engagement device associated to a predetermined forward gear ratio, said locking device being configured for being actuated above a threshold speed of the motor vehicle on which said gearbox is installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: C.R.F. SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Andrea PIAZZA, Gianluigi PREGNOLATO, Lawrence LABA
  • Publication number: 20110146433
    Abstract: A synchronizer mechanism for synchronizing the rotation of gears between a power input shaft and a power output shaft in a manual transmission includes a hub and a synchronizer sleeve disposed about the hub and moveable relative thereto into and out of engagement with adjacent gears to synchronize the rotation of the adjacent gears with the rotation of the power input shaft. An indexing mechanism is employed for indexing the synchronizer sleeve into and out of engagement with adjacent gears. The indexing mechanism includes a retaining mechanism and a detent portion having a main synchronization detent and at least one second synchronization detent disposed laterally adjacent the main synchronization detent. The main synchronization detent causes an intermediate clutch ring to contact a cylindrical cone portion on a gear and begin the change in angular velocity of the gear and to begin the synchronization sequence of the mechanism at a first time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Edward Perosky, Lawrence Laba, Christopher J. Stiefel